Insertion reaction of elemental sulfur into the Ln–C bond: Synthesis and characterization of [(C5H4SiMe2tBu)2Ln(μ-SR)]2 (R = Me, Ln = Yb, Er, Dy, Y; R = nBu, Ln = Yb, Dy)

Treatment of (C5H4SiMe2tBu)2LnR with 1 equiv of elemental sulfur in toluene at ambient temperature gives dimeric complexes [(C5H4SiMe2tBu)2Ln(μ-SR)]2 [R = Me, Ln = Yb (1), Er (2), Dy (3), Y (4); R = nBu, Ln = Yb (5), Dy (6)]. All these complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and mass spectroscopies. The structures of complexes 1, 3, 5 and 6 are also determined through X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis, indicating that only one sulfur atom from elemental sulfur inserts into Ln–C σ-bond.

Graphical abstractTreatment of (C5H4SiMe2tBu)2LnR with elemental sulfur leads to the formation of dimeric complexes [(C5H4SiMe2tBu)2Ln(μ-SR)]2 [R = Me, Ln = Yb, Er, Dy, Y; R = nBu, Ln = Yb, Dy], providing a new route to the syntheses of lanthanocene thiolates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide